Opinion: Rebuilding Illinois begins with the railroads
With nearly one in four U.S. freight trains and half of all intermodal trains passing through Chicago, rail is the economic backbone of the Prairie State. As former head of the Illinois Department of Transportation, I have witnessed firsthand how our railroads fuel growth and opportunity. Yet Illinois has long failed to fully capitalize on this advantage. Decades of underinvestment in rail infrastructure have contributed to economic stagnation in our state, driving families and companies to move away in search of greater affordability and economic opportunity elsewhere.
That makes Illinois’ current economic situation all the more frustrating – because the solution is clear: invest in infrastructure to generate economic growth. We have seen it work before. In 2003, Illinois launched the CREATE Program, a landmark public-private partnership to improve safety and untangle bottlenecks in freight and passenger rail lines. With $5.8 billion invested across 70 projects, the CREATE program delivered undeniable results: more efficient trains, more competitive businesses, more than $31.5 billion in economic benefits, and over 44,000 new jobs. Private sector investments have proven just as powerful – projects like the CenterPoint Intermodal Center in Elwood created thousands of jobs, yielded millions in tax revenue, and attracted new business to our state.
Now, as Illinois’ economic health declines, rail investments again offers a promising path forward. In Grundy County, Canadian National (CN) railway is building a logistics hub with an intermodal terminal to alleviate some of the capacity strain on Chicago’s freight network. This project isn’t only about increasing shipping capacity – it’s about creating opportunity for nearby communities like Minooka and Channahon. Construction alone promises to create 600 well-paying jobs and once operational, the logistics park will employ 6,500 permanent workers plus another 365 at the intermodal facility. The facility is expected to generate more than $850 million in annual economic output and more than $20 million each year in local tax revenue – funding better schools, stronger public services, and improvements to roads and bridges. For families, those are not abstract statistics but tangible improvements in quality of life.
Another major investment is the Springfield Rail Improvements Project, a $544 million initiative backed by federal, state, and local governments. Designed to ease congestion by consolidating rail lines, adding overpasses and underpasses, reconstructing bridges, and building a new multimodal transportation center, the project exemplifies how smart investments serve industry and economic needs. As Senator Tammy Duckworth noted during the May 12 funding announcement, “investing in our rail infrastructure is critical for growing our economy.” Beyond economic growth, the Springfield project also enhances safety, improves travel efficiency, and supports good-paying jobs across central Illinois.
Together, CN’s Chicago Logistics Hub and the Springfield Rail Improvements Project show the scale of what rail investment can achieve. According to the Association of American Railroads every $1 invested in railroads generates $2.50 in economic activity, and every railroad job creates nearly four more jobs in industries like manufacturing, logistics, and technology. For Illinois – a state striving to retain companies and attract new industries – the return on investment is undeniable.
And the benefits extend far beyond our borders. Approximately 25 percent of all U.S. freight trains and 50 percent of all intermodal trains pass through metropolitan Chicago, the nation’s indispensable interchange between east and west. By investing in rail, Illinois strengthens the entire country’s supply chain resilience while securing its own place as the premier freight hub of North America.
Illinois’ economy now stands at a crossroads. If we hesitate, we risk letting opportunities pass us by. But if we choose to keep building, we can restore our legacy as the engine of America’s growth.
Milton Sees is the former Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.